Mr. Chair, it is my pleasure to appear before you and Members of the committee to discuss Bill C-30—the Cost of Living Relief Act—which would deliver targeted tax relief to the Canadians who need it most by doubling the Goods and Services Tax Credit for six months.
I’m so glad to be here in Saskatchewan today and I want to start by pointing out that I’m here on Ukrainian Independence Day. Saskatchewan and the Prairies and Ukraine have a long shared history—Ukrainian immigrants helped settle this province more than a century ago. And I know that Ukrainian- Canadian culture and traditions are a part of life for so many people here.
I really believe that small businesses—small, entrepreneurial family-run businesses—are the heart of our communities, they are the heart of our country, they are the heart of our economy.
I think all of us who are not truckers had an opportunity during COVID to realize who really does the essential work in our country. And truckers and trucking companies are among the most essential pieces of the Canadian economy.
As Atlantic Canada’s largest port— as a cornerstone of the New Brunswick and Canadian economies—the work that happens here connects Canada to the global economy and helps supply the goods that Canadians rely on.